BBC4 Honors Bob Dylan in Anticipation of ‘A Complete Unknown’ Release

BBC4 Plans to Celebrate Bob Dylan

BBC4 has revealed its plans to honor the music of Bob Dylan in anticipation of the UK release of Complete Unknown.

• READ MORE: 'Total Unknown' Review: Don't Think Twice Before Watching This Brilliant Bob Dylan Biopic

The biopic featuring Timothée Chalamet chronicles the legendary musician’s transition from acoustic folk icon to electric rock star during the mid-60s, set to hit UK theaters on January 17.

Program Schedule and Documentary Features

In celebration of Dylan’s career, BBC4 will kick off a series of programs starting on January 10, just a week prior to the film’s release.

The festivities will commence at 22:20 GMT with a broadcast of Bob Dylan: No Direction Home, a 2005 documentary by Martin Scorsese that delves into Dylan’s journey from his arrival in New York in January 1961 until his “retirement” from touring following a motorcycle accident in July 1966.

This will be followed by the broadcast of Bob Dylan: Kingdom of Shadows, a live concert film shot in California in 2021 while Dylan’s never-ending tour was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You can view the complete schedule here.

In Shadow Kingdom, the live concert received four stars from NME. Rhian Daly remarked: “Instead of sending us into the future, Shadow Kingdom takes you to the smoky corners of the past – both in its setting and in the set list, which is largely based on deep cuts from the ’60s and releases from the ’70s.”

In other Complete Unknown news, Chalamet live-streamed a surprise Dylan performance at the premiere of Total Unknown in New York, showcasing a new look with facial hair, blonde locks, a leather jacket, and a gray scarf.

During his preparation for the film, the actor learned to play 30 songs from Dylan’s catalog, receiving guidance from a vocal coach, guitar coach, dialect coach, movement coach, and harmonica coach.

Dylan recently commended Chalamet’s dedication to the role, stating: “Timmy is a brilliant actor, so I’m sure he will be completely believable—or perhaps I’m younger, or it’s some other version of me.”

Dylan added: “The film is based on an Elijah Wald book, Dylan Goes Electric, published in 2015. This is a fantastic retelling of the events in the early ’60s that led to the Newport fiasco. After viewing the movie, be sure to read the book.”

Chalamet expressed his gratitude in response to Dylan’s praise by quoting the musician’s Twitter post, stating: “Shocked. I’m so grateful. Thank you, Bob.”

In NME, Alex Flood, who reviewed the film and awarded it four stars, noted: “The most crucial (and often difficult) task of any musical film is getting the score right. This film nails it. If you’re new to Bob, you’ll leave the theater eager to dive into his back catalog.

“For existing fans, you’ll spend the following weeks crafting playlists of lesser-known B-sides or digging into the history of unfamiliar scenes. That’s why making this film was smart—a wild idea, but a smart one.”

Meanwhile, Total Unknown has been selected by former President Barack Obama as one of his favorite films of 2024.

Furthermore, Levi’s has recently unveiled a new clothing line inspired by Chalamet’s portrayal of Dylan, featuring a jacket and jeans modeled after Dylan’s original outfits from the ’60s.